Another 3,000 farmers to receive $200 cash if they plant one acre of land with root crops or vegetables

Another 3,000 farmers throughout Fiji who will cultivate at least one acre of land with root crops or vegetables will get $200 each under Cash for Cultivation Program.

The Australian Government has provided $800,000 for this program.

Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Mahendra Reddy says this is not for existing but new crops as they want to expand agriculture.

He says 1,000 farmers have already benefitted from this program in Phase 1 after they received assistance from Adventist Development and Relief Agency.

He says farmers also need money as they have been affected by lower demand and prices.

Dr. Reddy says other assistance provided by the government is mostly for urban and peri-urban households and farmers may not reach out to this assistance as they do have some form of income.

He says this is why they have decided to reach out to these farmers in the interior and maritime areas. The Minister for Agriculture says they want to start paying from next week.

Reddy says if farmers register and show evidence that their one acre of land is ready for planting, they can get first payment of $75 and the remaining amount will be paid once the land is fully cultivated.

Farmers need to contact their nearest agriculture extension office and inform the agriculture officer to have a look at their plot and get registered for their program.